Kitchen cabinet painting in Melbourne

Is your kitchen a good candidate for painting?

Painting suits kitchens where the cabinets are structurally sound and the layout works, but the colour or finish has dated. It is a good fit for:

• Solid timber or timber-veneer doors that are stained, orange or dark.
• Previously painted cabinets that are chipped or yellowed.
• Melamine and laminate doors that are sound and well stuck down, with the right bonding primer.
• Laundry cabinets, vanities and built-in wardrobes you want to match a new colour scheme.

It is not the answer for everything. Swollen particleboard around the sink or dishwasher, doors that are peeling at the edges, and vinyl-wrapped doors that are lifting usually need repair or replacement first, because paint will not hold them together. We tell you honestly at the inspection which doors are worth painting.

Preparation decides how long it lasts

Grease and cooking residue are invisible but stop paint sticking, so cabinets are degreased thoroughly before anything else, especially around the cooktop and the handles. Glossy surfaces are then sanded to dull them, and a bonding primer made for the surface goes on first: one type for bare or stained timber, another for laminate and slick factory finishes.

Older kitchens may have been finished in oil-based enamel. Water-based paint applied straight over it can peel, so we test the existing coating and choose the primer to suit. In homes built before 1970, old paint may contain lead and is never dry sanded; our guide to lead paint in older homes explains why.

Paint and finish for cabinets

Cabinets need a harder finish than walls. We use premium enamel paints from Dulux, Taubmans and Wattyl, chosen for scrub resistance and how they level out on doors. Satin or semi-gloss is the usual choice: it wipes clean and hides small marks better than full gloss, which shows every brush mark and dent. Our guide to paint sheen levels explains the options.

Paint goes on dry to the touch quickly but takes longer to cure fully and reach its hardness. We tell you how long to treat the doors gently, and doors are handled with care when they go back on so the fresh finish is not marked.

Living with the kitchen while we work

Painting cabinets causes far less disruption than a renovation: no demolition, no plumber and no new benchtops. Benchtops, appliances, splashbacks and floors are masked and covered, and we agree how the kitchen will be used during the job, such as keeping the fridge and a section of bench available each evening. Our checklist on how to prepare your home for painters covers what to clear out beforehand.

Many people paint the kitchen as part of a bigger refresh. Our interior painting team can do the walls, ceiling and trims at the same time, and a colour consultation helps the cabinet colour work with your benchtop and splashback. Wet-area walls need their own paint; see painting kitchens and bathrooms.

What affects the price of painting kitchen cabinets

Every kitchen is quoted after a free site inspection. The main things that change the price are:

• The number of doors, drawer fronts and panels, and whether insides are painted too.
• The door material and existing finish, which decide the preparation and primer.
• Repairs: chipped edges, old hinge holes and swollen corners.
• Whether laundry cabinets, vanities or wardrobes are added to the job.
• New handles, which may need holes filled and new ones drilled.

Our guide to what it costs to paint a room covers interior pricing, and what a painting quote should include helps you compare quotes.